Shas campaign suggests FM backs interfaith marriage

The Shas Party launched a new ad campaign Monday, with posters featured on thousands of buses and billboards across the country blasting political opponents Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

One sign bears an image of the foreign minister wearing a yarmulke, with the caption reading "Only a strong Shas
will prevent religious assimilation." The sign featuring the prime minister reads "Only a strong Shas will care for the underprivileged."

Minister Ariel Atias,
head of the Shas Information Division, said: "We are launching a focused campaign the goal of which is twofold: First, to remind the public that Shas is the social shield of the underprivileged; and second, to stress Shas' struggle to maintain the Jewish identity of the State of Israel,
especially in the face of legislation that aims to fracture that identity."

'Only a strong Shas will prevent religious assimilation'

'Only a strong Shas will care for the underprivileged'

As an example of said legislation, a representative of the party said that Shas intended to "Fight initiatives that allow marriage between Jews and non-Jews; initiatives that were conceived by Yisrael Beiteinu, which is now united with the Likud."

According to the representative, the Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu union prompted Shas to come up with a campaign that targets Yisrael Beiteinu
chairman – Lieberman – and Likud chairman – Netanyahu – both of whom might damage Israel's Jewish identity and undermine the wellbeing of the underprivileged.